Support offered to gay community

Support offered to gay community

27 May 2015

A NEWRY-BASED group which supports the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has reached out to people living in Down District.

Newry Rainbow Community held an engagement and awareness-raising event in Downpatrick on Thursday to explain the support and services it provides to members of the LGBT community in the Newry area.

The event, which was held in partnership with County Down Rural Community Network and supported by the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, took place in the Ballymote Centre.

Newry Rainbow Community (NRC) is a social, befriending and informational organisation that has operated an information, resource and -in centre in Newry since 2010. The centre has recently relocated to new premises in Newry.

Staffed by volunteers, the services and support available to members of the LGBT community and their families includes personal development courses, advocacy and referrals, signposting, a befriending service, professional counselling, rapid HIV testing, sexual health advice, training courses and opportunities for social engagement.

Damian McKevitt, secretary of the NRC said the centre enables the group to more widely publicise the work of the NRC. 

“The relocation of our drop-in Centre has provided us with an opportunity to expand the services, supports and programmes delivered through it,” he said.

“Our new premises provide substantial extra space and a more secure and financially sustainable future. This will allow us to consolidate our existing services and supports, to improve the impact and quality of these services and to develop a range of new services and 

programmes aimed at addressing the health, wellbeing and equality of LGBT people throughout the new Newry, Mourne and Down District council area. 

“This re-location will enable the NRC to build on progress made in the previous four years and to further increase the visibility of the NRC as an organisation and raise awareness of LGBT issues generally throughout the new council area,” he added. 

“It will allow us to more effectively portray LGBT people in a positive way, breaking down barriers and stereotypes and 

promoting the integration and participation of LGBT people in all aspects of the wider community and civic life of Newry, Mourne and Down, working collaboratively with other organisations across the new council area.”

Welcoming the NRC to Downpatrick the charwoman of Newry, Mourne and Down Council, Naomi Bailie, declared the council’s support for the local LGBT community and committed 

herself  to help to extend the availability of services and support to LGBT people 

in Downpatrick and surrounding areas, particularly to people living in rural areas and 

communities.

As a continuing part of it’s outreach programme the NRC is providing a free return bus leaving the Ballymote Centre on Thursday, May 28, at 6.30pm to convey people to the new NRC Centre in Newry and give them an opportunity to meet and engage with a wide range of people from various sectors and organisations. 

All are welcome to come along. To book your place on the bus email Mary or Libby at info@countydownrcn.com or telephone 028 4461 2311. 

Pick ups can be also arranged in Clough/Castlewellan, Kilcoo, Hilltown etc.